Chief Government spokesperson Mwansa Kapeya has said the controversial NGO act is law which needs to be adhered to in its current form and force.He said government is aware of the concerns that have been raised by some NGOs regarding some of the legal impediments within the NGO Act No. 2009 but Government is of the view that the sentiments being made on the NGO Act by some stakeholders are mere speculation as no one has been injured by the said law so far.
460 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) resolved not to register under the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Act until all the necessary amendments on the proposed unconstitutional Act of 2009 were resolved.
Non Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Chairperson, Beatrice Grillo, said the Act of 2009 is retrogressive and that it is not in the best interest of some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).Ms Grillo stated that the Act is in conflict with Article 21 of the constitution as its scope goes beyond the prior restraints permissible under the Article and restricts freedom of association and movement.
She stated that the Article is heavy as its requirements impinge on the internal affairs of NGOs especially taking into account that each NGO operates on different mandates in accordance with their own priorities and use different methodologies and reporting lines to achieve their objectives.
She charged that its application and registration provisions are unclear and place a financial burden on NGOs unnecessarily.
Ms Grillo also noted that the Act does not recognise the previous legal status of the registered NGOs under the existing legal frame work(societies Act) and the provision in the NGO Act on re-registration are confusing and ambiguous.
Below is the Full Press Statement
STATEMENT BY HON. MWANSA KAPEYA, MP, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON THE REGISTRATION OF NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS UNDER THE NGO ACT
Government wishes to make its position clear on the registration of Non Governmental Organisations under the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009. This is in the wake of concerns raised by some NGOs over the operationalization of the Act.
First and foremost, Government wishes to amplify the commitment it attaches to NGOs as partners supplementing its efforts in development.
As such, it is Government’s resolve to continue to engage the NGOs through the established structures in ensuring that the relationship with the NGOs is enhanced and sustained.
In this regard, Government is aware of the concerns that have been raised by some NGOs regarding some of the legal impediments within the NGO Act No. 2009 that need to be addressed.
However, since the NGO Act is already law which needs to be adhered to in its current form and force, Government has commenced the registration process of the NGOs as a way of operationalizing the Act while the review process will follow while it is being implemented.
Government wishes to observe further that it is the duty of the Courts to interpret whether the law in question is bad. At the moment, Government is of the view that the sentiments being made on the NGO Act by some stakeholders are mere speculation as no one has been injured by the said law so far.
Government is committed to review the NGO Act as stated in its Manifesto and this issue is scheduled to be tabled before Cabinet.
Consultations with stakeholders, including the Council of NGOs, on the review of the NGO Act are on course and a roadmap has since been developed to commence the process.
By way of updating the nation on the registration process, 420 NGOs countrywide have paid and collected the registration forms out of which 149 NGOs have been issued with certificates of registration.
From this and other figures captured so far, it is clear that a large majority of NGOs have complied with the law by commencing the registration process under the NGO Act.
The second extension of NGO registration expired on 3rd February, 2014 and currently, the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, is taking into consideration all relevant concerns from stakeholders.
Hon. Mwansa Kapeya, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
27th February, 2014
When is the statement on losing Katuba seat?
One of the reasons the PF is doing badly is because of poor Government Ministerial choices
Being an MP should not warrant one to be a Minister. Here is an example of a man who is either ill advised or is a fan of the sound of his own voice.
They are plotting there own down fall because If Mr Kapeya believes half of what he comes up with, then he needs his head examined.
Get rid of people like this Man Mr Sata and the likes of Chellah.
This is self inflicted, me thinks.
The man above doesn’t make sense no matter how sober and dull one is
Thanks
don’t expect one.
Dear Blogger,
We understand you are excited about winning Katuba, but such do not warrant a statement from government. Please note that Government is separate from PF and such it should remain.
Sincerely ,
Lee Habaponta Bsc,Msc,Phd
PF is considering to appeal nullification coz Sikazwe was beaten.
Can someone reason with me why most of these women heading NGO’S never get married?
She is Mrs. Beatrice Sililo Grillo, get your facts before showing your ignorance.
@ MMD Cadre. Bana Adwale is not married and has not been for over 30 plus years. Now who is showing their ignorance?
Stu.pid man, where in this statement are the women all of you f00ls are now talking about mentioned? I am angered by the many stupid comments men in Zambia make about women instead of discussing issues! Please go to Prof Emma in Kanyama to sort out your little dicks maybe one day you will be lucky enough to marry some of these intelligent sisters! Seems to me a case of sour grapes In the meantime instead of drinking your heads off, go home and do something useful like teach wifey the alphabet! These intelligent women have no time for brainless dicks like you! Get a life, respond to the issues they raise and not marital status, if not, leave this discussion for real men who can hold their own against these strong women! Ubupuba muleke efyo icalo chafula ubupuba pantu chaisula abaume ifipub
Does it matter? What has marriage got to do with performance at work?
Registration is necessary. Advisers and consultants could also bring sanity to the NGO community gone out of control. Categorization system could be revisited. Political foundations, religious bodies, charities, advocacy groups, sports, all these groups can share different views. Those that are complaining perhaps do not know where they belong.
Mwansa,
Surely you cannot be that dull!
You’ve lost it all. Still cheating?
Grillo is no longer married. Husband run away to Nigeria. She used to work for DHL so MMD cadre it is you who should get your facts right
Is SIKAZWE married?
GOOD RESPONSE TO THE ANIMAL DRIVEN CONSTITUTION
The calls for an animal driven constitution, if a joke, are misplaced, but if genuine, we encourage our current PF leaders to consider standing for elections in one of our many national parks and game management areas, where we hope the animals will be kind enough to give them an animal driven constitution. As we are not animals, we deserve the respect due to humans and our needs attended to as humans deserve
History in form one teaches that we are from animals, ba kolwe, I do not under stand back zebiggie ba Santa’ s animal thing when we all know very we are animals
I would agree more with the President that the consitution is animal driven because he is running an animal farm, where all animals are equal but winter, mmembe and scott are the A team and more equal.
ANIMAL DRIVEN CONSTITUTION CAMPAIGN STRATEGY
Which animals will vote for them? Red serpents, Lions, Elephants, Hyenas (Chimbwi) etc are all waiting for these guys to go and campaign.
Campaign Managers are:
Luangwa National Park – Willie Nsanda
Kafue National Park – Hon. S Masebo
Jivundu forest – Hon – Kambwili
PF is also looking for those who know how to swim to compaign in the water to the Hippos, crocodies, snails ETC.
While you spend time blogging your friends are busy campaigning in the National parks for the animal driven constitution. I hope they will also come up with an animal NGO driven Act of 2014. Anything now is possible under PF.
Ati Mwansa Kapono
Animal driven state house
Animal driven cabinate
Animal driven MP’s of pf
Animal driven ministers
Animal driven cadres of PF
Yaba, yajisa banene
Ba NGO Nimwe mwaleima amabaka. Ngaba Makaka nemichila namwimya mukuleta. Ubuteko bwampilipili ask God to forgive your SINS
.join hands with the rest of Zambians to remove this PAMAFI from Govt twanaka na BUPUTI BWABO. INSOKA BOMA KUMUTWE. UU KWEBELE IMFWA YAKWA NOKO MUTANSHI